Latest news with #SiceloMhlauli
The Herald
a day ago
- The Herald
Officials, families of Cradock Four visit key sites
News Premium By Riaan Marais - 05 June 2025 As a delegation of court officials and family members visited Bluewater Bay, where the body of Sicelo Mhlauli was believed to have been found, his son, Ntsika, walked by himself at the water's edge, his hands clasped together as if he were praying. 'I have never been here before but this will forever be a sacred place for me now,' Ntsika said on Wednesday. ..
IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Cradock Four inquest resumes after nearly 40 years of silence
The inquest into the deaths of activists Sicelo Mhlauli, Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe and Sparrow Mkhonto, known as the Cradock Four, has resumed for the third time. The four men were killed by Apartheid security forces in June 1985. Image: File picture: Benny Gool/Independent Media Archives More than 39 years after the murder of the Cradock Four and decades of unanswered questions, the third inquest into the deaths of the Cradock Four officially got under way at the Gqeberha High Court, in the Eastern Cape on Monday. The families of Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe, Sparrow Mkhonto and Sicelo Mhlauli are hoping this renewed legal process will finally bring closure and accountability for the brutal killings of the four anti-apartheid activists who were tortured in 1985. The family's legal representative, Howard Varney, said that the death of the four young men was meticulously planned by the Apartheid security branch. "According to autopsy reports, Mhlauli died from stab wounds; Calata died from stabbing in the heart; Mkhonto died from a gunshot wound to the head and (was) stabbed in the heart. Mhlauli's body was found with a missing hand. "It is quite apparent that before death, the four were brutally tortured and mutilated. The Apartheid police created a cover story saying they were killed by elements from the Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO) in a factional dispute. We intend to demonstrate that the death of the Cradock Four was brought about by way of a calculated and a premeditated decision by the Apartheid regime. It was meticulously planned by the security branch in an official operation," he stated. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Advocate Tembela Ngukaitobi, who represents some of the Goniwe family members, said he is hopeful that the truth will eventually come out in the latest inquest. "There is a high possibility that the full truth will emerge and some level of closure for the families would put an end to psychological trauma," he said. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi attended the first day of the resumption of the inquest with departmental spokesperson, Terrence Manase indicating that 'this inquest forms part of ongoing efforts by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to address unresolved cases from the apartheid era and to advance justice and closure for affected families and communities". The inquest into the deaths of the four activists was previously halted due to funding challenges. Kubayi indicated that the state has in the past funded and supported multiple inquests and prosecutions, adding that a presidential Commission of Inquiry will determine whether anyone in government deliberately stalled these cases. 'It is worth to note that even now, President Cyril Ramaphosa has opened and appointed a commission to deal with the issues. I think we must allow for the commission to determine from where we are sitting that there hasn't been any deliberate delays in prosecuting or even bringing the cases that relates to apartheid crimes into court,' the minister said.
IOL News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
NPA ready to proceed with Cradock Four inquest, MPs told
The graves of Sicelo Mhlauli, Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe and Sparrow Mkhonto, known as the Cradock Four. The four men were killed by security forces in June 1985. Image: File picture: Benny Gool/Independent Media Archives THE inquest into the deaths of Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkonto, Matthew Goniwe, and Sicelo Mhlauli, famously referred to as the Cradock Four, is set to finally get under way next month following delays over the legal representation for former security police officers. This emerged when the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJ&CD), the Hawks, Legal Aid South Africa (LASA) and the Foundation for Human Rights appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development on Tuesday. The committee was briefed on progress made to prosecute in Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) related cases. 'We note the positive impact and positive progress. These matters have been delayed for too many years. The committee will closely monitor the commitments that were made, especially with next month's inquest relating to the Cradock Four,' said committee chairperson Xola Nqola. The historic re-opening of the inquest was due to sit from September 2 to 20 last year, following the announcement by former Minister of Justice, Ronald Lamola, on January 5 of the same year, that the decision had been taken to re-open the inquest, almost 40 years since their assassination at the hands of the apartheid regime on June 27, 1985. June will mark the 40th anniversary of their deaths. Initially, over 49 people had been identified as having some direct interest in the case or an indirect link. However, many of these individuals have since died. There are now only five people left, most of them are over the age of 80 and two of them in their mid 70s. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Nqola said: 'The delay is unacceptable. Evidence disappears, witnesses die, victims pass on and family members die without getting justice. Families need this closure. We will closely monitor what happens next month in the Cradock Four matter.' He said the committee noted with disappointment the absence of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) from Tuesday's meeting as one of the persons of interest in the Cradock Four matter was formerly in the SANDF. 'Hopefully, this will not lead to another delay in the matter,' he said. The NPA's TRC unit told MPs that 194 matters were under investigation. Decisions have been taken not to proceed with 35 of these for various reasons while 159 others are in hand. Two convictions have been secured. Seven criminal cases are on the High Court roll, including the case of the COSAS Four. The NPA also said it was concerned that with the elapse of time and despite diligent investigation, it may be unable to find the necessary evidence to reconstruct scenes, obtain expert opinion and witness statements, or similar factual evidence to work from. The DOJ&CD said it has experienced several challenges in implementing the TRC recommendations, including several unresolved TRC matters. These include calls to re-open the victim registration process by the South African Coalition for Transitional Justice – an umbrella body for NGOs providing support to victims of apartheid crimes. Cape Times
